Mangalore : MG Hegde member of Kannada Sahitya Parishad and JDS secretary said that this month 29th there is an election for Kannada Sahitya Parishad for the post of president, but the present president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura is fighting to maintain same position from years.

He was speaking at the press meet held at Patthumudi Soudha on Tuesday, April 10. He also said that Pradeep Kumar Kalkura from past 10 years has been acting as a dictating authority which is dangerous for Kannada and Kannada literature.

He also alleged that Kalkura has not maintained financial accounts of the Parishad from three years. In an interview he also said that he has spent Rs. 9 lakhs for the Parishad from his pocket.

When asked about the accounts of the Parishad, all we got in return through an RTI enquiry is the accounts of Sahitya Sammelana and not the Parishad. He urged him to reveal the accounts of the Parishad before the memberd of the parishad prior to the election, he said.

He also said that spending money from one’s own pocket for a government aided body like the Sahitya Parishad is also illegal. He must disclose the profits earned by Kalkura Pratishthana as the president of the Parishad.

Mr. Hegde said that the membership campaign has also given to the group of Kalkura’s supporters. Hence the membership campaign for the Parishad be fair and open for people of all castes and communities.

Kalkura is not ready to leave the post and if his supporters are supporting for the same president, then let they declare for how many years they want the same president.

Mahesh R Naik, writer and publisher, Kallachu Prakashana also alleged that Mr. Kalkura pressurized the treasurer of the Parishad to give him signed blank cheques and in this pressure the treasurer has give around 20 blank cheques.

The Sahitya Parishad elections are scheduled to be held on April 29 and Sarvottam Anchan is contesting for the presidential elections, hence the people must given him a chance to get changes in the Parishad.

Bola Chittharanjan Das Shetty, Dr Annayya Kulal and others were present at the press meet.